District 300 redistricting plans get first formal airing
About three dozen parents sat in the dark Friday afternoon as they listened to possible solutions to crowded schools on Community Unit District 300's east side.
The public hearing, the first of three, was held at Golfview Elementary School, which was still without power lost in the storm the night before, district spokeswoman Allison Smith said.
Friday's group had the opportunity to view and ask questions, through a translator if necessary, on the three plans released this week in the Eastside Study Committee Report. Because of the power outage, a video on the proposals could not be shown as scheduled.
Each plan would move hundreds of students and build at least 12 new classrooms at east-side elementary and middle schools.
The first plan would add six classrooms at Parkview Elementary School and six at Golfview, district Data Manager Craig Sundstedt told the group. About 230 students would move from Perry to Parkview and Meadowdale elementary schools; 48 students would move from Meadowdale to Algonquin Lakes Elementary School. Plan one would be the cheapest at an estimated cost of $5.3 million.
The second plan would add six classrooms at Parkview, six at Golfview and six at Algonquin Middle School, Sundstedt said. Again, 230 students would move from Perry to Parkview and Meadowdale, but 75 students would move from Meadowdale to Golfview, and 48 students would move from Meadowdale to Algonquin Lakes. Plan two would be the costliest at $16.8 million.
The third plan, Sundstedt said, would also add six classrooms at Parkview, four at Golfview and at least six at Algonquin Middle School; 230 students would move from Perry to Parkview and Meadowdale. Forty-eight students would move from Meadowdale to Algonquin Lakes. Plan three would cost an estimated $16.1 million.
All three of the plans would create more space in east-side elementary schools for full-day kindergarten and preschool.
Parents present at the meeting largely agreed it was too soon to pick their plan of choice.
Irma Madrid of Carpentersville has one son at Perry. "I'd be disappointed if he had to move schools," Madrid said. "Right now, I can drop him off right on the way to work."
Jose Hernandez of Carpentersville also expressed concerns about a lengthier commute to school. His two children now walk a half block to attend Meadowdale. "I work in the evenings, my wife works during the day," he said. "The kids need more space (in the schools), but I don't want them to have to go much farther."
Meadowdale Principal Rita Janus said the second and third plans would affect the largest portion of her students. In both plans, the school, now a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade facility, would house students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
The next hearings are scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday at Perry and 7 p.m. Monday at Algonquin.
The District 300 school board plans to vote on the proposals June 23.
The district plans to implement the proposal the board selects for the 2009-10 school year.